the Billionaire’s Secret Desire(14)

stole and went to the living room to wait for Luke. She tossed the

stole on the back of the sofa and walked over to the large patio

doors to stare out at the lights of the city thinking that this thing

with Brittney probably wasn‘t over. She‘d seen the look in her

eyes.

She quickly squashed her worries and smiled when Luke

came out of his room adjusting his tie.

―Is this straight?‖ he said as he fidgeted with the knot.

If she showed him she was the least bit upset, she knew

darn well he‘d go to Max. She loved her older brother to death

but he was insanely protective. It even surprised her that he let

her go work for Max this summer because she knew how

protective he could be. However, Max was no different after that

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Lietha Wards

spiel he gave her about her hair when he picked her up from

college.

Lily reached up and finished smoothing it out. ―It is now.‖

She‘d learned at a young age how to fix Luke‘s ties. He was a

handsome man, but he still couldn‘t seem to get it perfect.

Unlike Max. She‘d seen him flawlessly do up his ties without

even using a mirror to check them. She sighed inwardly thinking

how silly it was of her to even think that was perfect.

He grinned down at her, ―You look beautiful Lily. You‘re

going to knock our client‘s socks off.‖

She smiled shyly, ―thanks. You look pretty good

yourself.‖

―How much did that number cost me?‖ Luke said looking

at the emerald satin dress. It wasn‘t too revealing but showed

her figure nicely and had little spaghetti straps over the

shoulders. Then again his sister was so beautiful she didn‘t need

anything fancy to enhance her looks. At least he thought so.

―Max bought it.‖ she looked down and fingered the

expensive material. ―Isn‘t it beautiful?

One of his brows rose, ―Really?‖ then an odd look came

over his face, but he turned away to pick up and pocketed his cell

phone before she could interpret it.

―Why?‖

He shook his head like it was nothing. ―Just glad it didn‘t

take a bite out of my pay check.‖ He teased. ―Company card?‖

―Of course. I‘m a perfect tax write off.‖ She added

teasingly while doing a mock pose.

He chuckled, ‗I‘ll remember that.‖ A that moment his cell

phone rang and he pulled it out and answered it, while she went

and got her handbag.

Hanging up, he picked up her sheer silver wrap, ―Come

on, Max is downstairs in the car.‖ He draped it over her

shoulders.

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The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire



―Why didn‘t he come up?‖

He hesitated for a moment before he spoke, ―Cybil‘s with

him.‖

―Oh.‖ She couldn‘t keep the disappointment out of her

voice.

Luke let an expression of distaste cross his features but

didn‘t let his sister see it. He‘d gone out with Max and Cybil

before and the woman was a complete snob. Of course he knew

why Max was dating her, and he‘d done stupid things like that to,

but she was becoming quite possessive and was sure that his

friend was going to end the relationship soon. ―She flew in

several hours ago to surprise him and obviously insisted on

coming.‖

Of course she did. Obviously Cybil knew Max‘s

reputation and didn‘t want him being out without her tonight.

She didn‘t forget that phone call when she walked in to Max‘s

office her first day and the possessiveness that Cybil displayed.

Lily wasn‘t fortunate enough to meet the woman over the

past week since she was working for Max, but she followed the

gossip columns and knew the woman was a walking publicity

stunt. There was no doubt that she was beautiful, but she had a

string of successful men in her life and as far as Lily was

concerned Max was just another boost to the woman‘s publicity.

Well, there was Max‘s physical attributes.

Squashing the hateful feelings of her jealousy she allowed

Luke to take her arm and escort her out of the building to the

immaculate stretched limo. Oscar got out and held the door

open and winked at her causing her to smile.

Sliding into her seat with her brother right beside her she

set her attention on the other woman and wasn‘t prepared for

how really beautiful the woman was up close. Max cordially

introduced them and Lily thought she was polite, unlike Cybil,

who gave her a once over with a slight look of dislike. She

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Lietha Wards

thought she might have imagined it, but Luke stiffened beside

her. Obviously she wasn‘t the only one that noticed. She wanted

to berate the snob, but instead gave her a ravishing smile and

told her it was nice to finally meet her.

―But of course.‖ Cybil said as if it was a privilege to know

her. Then she turned to Max and started speaking in fluent